Fantasy hockey second half sleepers for 2018-19

NHL.com has identified a second half sleeper for each of the 31 teams. These players have yet to sustain fantasy significance in the first half (stats entering Jan. 10, 2019) however are primed for greater production in the coming months. For more dream hockey coverage, check outNHL.com/ Fantasy.

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Anaheim Ducks:Ondrej Kase— The ideal wing ranks 10th in even-strength objectives per 60 minutes (1.71) and has actually gotten rid of an injury absence by scoring 19 points (11 goals, 8 assists) in his first 26 video games. Top-line use withRyan GetzlafandRickard Rakell, who returned from injury Wednesday, might take Kase’s production to new heights.Arizona Coyotes:

Darcy Kuemper– Regardless of all the injuries and inconsistency from the Coyotes, they rank 13th in group save portion(.908). Kuemper, who has missed time with injury, might improve on his.914 save portion in the second half with a heavy workload in the absence of injured Antti Raanta (lower body). Boston Bruins: Jake DeBrusk– If the Bruins stay healthy in the 2nd half, DeBrusk could develop on his first half production ina secondary function; he

has 17 points( 14goals, three assists), 6 power-play points and 87 SOG in 34 video games and might probably lock down the 5th spot on the very first power-play unit with elite fantasy skaters David Pastrnak, Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron and Torey Krug. Buffalo Sabres: Lawrence Pilut– The Sabres currently have 2 fantasy-relevant defensemen in Rasmus Ristolainenand rookie Rasmus Dahlin,but Buffalo hasspace for more depth scoring in the 2nd half. Pilut, also a novice, has actually revealed a glance

for opening goal Carolina Hurricanes: Andrei Svechnikov– The No. 2 pick in the 2018 NHL Draft has room for better lineup positioning; he has actually played mostly far from important forwards Sebastian Aho and Teuvo Teravainen in the very first half. Svechnikov leads all rookies in SOG( 114 )and would likewise gain from more first power-play use( 2 PPP). Chicago Blackhawks: Erik Gustafsson, Dylan Strome and Collin Delia– The Blackhawks have a prospective 2nd half sleeper at each position as they discover more consistency under

new coach Jeremy Colliton. Gustafsson has actually been covering helps and power-play points, Strome has actually benefitedfrom top-line direct exposure to elite best wing Patrick Kane and Delia has actually a. 939 SV%through 6 starts this season in the lack of injured goalie Corey Crawford( concussion). Colorado Avalanche: J.T. Compher– The tri-eligible forward has18 points( 10 objectives, eight assists), 7 on the power play, in 28 video games and could see more constant use on the top power-play unit with elite forwardsNathan MacKinnon,Mikko Rantanen andGabriel Landeskog. Compher has a possibility to raise Colorado’s 2nd line down the stretch and would also gain from its leading line being separated again at any point.Columbus Blue Jackets: Oliver Bjorkstrand– With uncertainty surrounding elite left wing Artemi Panarin( possible 2019 unlimited totally free agent ), he could be movedprior to the 2019 NHL Trade Deadline. Bjorkstrand has the greatest ceiling among Columbus ‘secondary scorers and might reach his possible if an injury or Panarin trade opens up an area with valuable

forwards Pierre-LucDubois and/orWebcam Atkinson. Dallas Stars: Jason Spezza– A second half surge from elite forwards Tyler Seguin and/or Jamie Benn might have a causal sequence on Spezza at even strength and/or on the very first power play( eight of Spezza’s 21 points have begun the power play). If extreme right Alexander Radulov plays mostly on the 2nd line with Spezza, the

veteran would also see a dream uptick.Detroit Red Wings: Anthony Mantha– Since returning from a hand injury, Mantha has points in 2 of his very first 3 games and brings high advantage for the 2nd half. Mantha was a well balanced scorer last

season( 24 goals, 24 assists) and could fire up if reunited with fantasy standout Dylan Larkin. Edmonton Oilers: Caleb Jones– With leading defenseman Oscar Klefbom( finger) still out, Edmonton might use a lift from among its young defensemen. Jones has 4 points( one objective, 3 assists ), 16 hits and is averaging 19:33 per video game through his first 11 NHL games and has the high-end of exposure to elite forwards Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl on any offered shift.Florida Panthers: Frank Vatrano– The Panthers forward has maintained second-line use lately and is surrounding 100 SOG( 98 in 40 games) with frequent exposureto either Evgenii Dadonov or

Mike Hoffman. Vatrano has seven points( 3 goals, four assists), two on

the power play, a plus-2 and 33 SOG over his previous 12 games.Los Angeles Kings: Dustin Brown– With important center Anze Kopitar and nowveteran wing Ilya Kovalchuk on Brown’s line, he’s restoring his scoring consistency from last season (61 points in 81 video games ). Already a must-own forward inhits leagues( 70 in 34 video games), Brown has nine points (3 objectives, six helps ), a plus-3 and 31 SOG in his past

12 games.Video:LAK@SJS: Kopitar taps home Brown’s dish in front Minnesota Wild: Charlie Coyle– The center is skating on the second line with left wing Zach Parise, who has 38 points( 19 goals, 19 assists) in 41 games. Coyle has five points( one goal, four assists )in 18:25 per video game (leads Wild forwards) considering that Dec. 31. Montreal Canadiens: Joel Armia– The extreme right hassly upside in much deeper leagues with two points( onegoal, one help) in 4 games considering that returning from injury Jan. 3. He’s skating on the top line with forwards Jonathan Drouin and Max Domi and very first power-play unit with Drouin, Domi, wing Tomas Tatar and defenseman Shea Weber. Nashville Predators:Craig Smith– Considering that Dec. 29,the extreme right has seven points( 4 objectives, 3 assists) in his past 7 gamesand is skatingin the leading 6 and on the 2nd power-play system with elite defenseman P.K. Subban, who returned from injury after the NHL’s holiday break.New Jersey Devils: Mackenzie Blackwood– The novice goalie is 3-1-0 in his past 5 appearances, consisting of2 shutouts and a. 954 SV%and could challenge Keith Kinkaid(.898 SV %) for the beginning task. Blackwood (lower body )is on injured reserve but could return quickly New York Islanders: Brock Nelson– The center is on rate for an NHL career-high 58 points and could have additional inspiration down the stretch of his contract year( possible 2019 UFA). He leadsall Islanders forwards in time on ice per game( 19:22) because Dec. 31 and has at least a point in 4 of his past 5 video games on a line with valuable left wing Anders Lee. New York City Rangers: Mats Zuccarello– The right wing, who could become a UFA in 2019, has actually missed time with injury and would likely see a boost in production( 15 points in 29 video games) if he’s traded to a competing team. Zuccarello hasaveraged 56 points overthe past 5 seasons Ottawa Senators: Colin White– The forward ranks second behind Elias Pettersson of the Vancouver Canucks in rookie scoring with 26 points( 11 objectives, 15 assists) in 43 games and has been skating mostly on the top line and power-play unit with extreme right Mark Stone. Philadelphia Flyers: Wayne

Simmonds– The bestwing is minus-16 this season (T-4th worst amongst NHL forwards) however has two goals and 14 SOG in the previous four video games. It’s possible that the potential 2019 UFA could be traded to a competitor, considerably increasing hisworth. He is a constant hits manufacturer( 80) and has space for improvement on the power play (5 PPP). Video: PHI@WSH: Simmonds jams house 200th objective as a Flyer Pittsburgh Penguins:Bryan Rust– Thewing has 10goals

in his previous 13 video games andwants to have actually protectedhis lineup placement together with elite center Sidney Crosby and left wing Jake Guentzel. San Jose Sharks: Joe Thornton– The 39-year-old has actually been a seasonal fantasy-relevant skater since entering the Leaguein 1997-98 and quietly has 20 points (8 goals, 12 helps )in 36 video games this season and

is back in his usual area with important forward Joe Pavelski. St. Louis Blues: Jordan Binnington– The goalie made his first NHL shutout versus the Flyers and might be offered more chances to begin in the 2nd half of the season given

Jake Allen’s underwhelming peripherals (.896 SV %; 3.07 GAA ). Tampa Bay Lightning: Ondrej Palat– The left wing isskating on the top linewith elite forward Steven Stamkos( 47 points in 43 games )and has just recently practiced on the first power-play system with important exposure to Nikita Kucherov and Victor Hedman. Toronto Maple Leafs: Zach Hyman– The left wing is back in the lineup after an ankle injury and offers even-strength scoring upside and hits( 57 in 32 games )in his usual spot on a line with elite forwards John Tavares and Mitchell Marner.

Hyman also has past chemistry with Auston Matthews in the event that he’s relocated to a different line.Vancouver Canucks: Thatcher Demko– The novice goalie won his only NHL start last season and could challenge the inconsistent Jacob Markstrom for the beginning task after Anders Nilsson was traded to the Ottawa Senators on Jan. 2. When novice standout Elias Pettersson returns from injury, the Canucks mightput their best foot forward down the stretch. UPDATE: Markstrom is expected to begin Thursday.Vegas Golden Knights: Brandon Pirri– The forward acquired double eligibility (C/LW) and has 8 goals in his very first 10 games this season primarily skating in a top-six role. He leads the NHL with 3.1 even-strength objectives per 60, showing he does not require a power-play role to stay relevant. UPDATE: Pirri has been sent out downto Chicago of theAmerican Hockey League for now.Washington Capitals: Jakub Vrana– The wing is 2nd on the Capitals with 14 goals and looks to have actually solidified a function skating on the second line with elite center Nicklas Backstrom( 44 points in 41 video games) and extreme right T.J. Oshie, who’s also in line for a much better second half.Winnipeg Jets: Jack Roslovic– With wing Nikolaj Ehlers (upper body)

anticipated to be out at least one month, Roslovic has actually seen his typical ice time riseto 14:34 and is skatingwith elite right wingPatrik Laine. NHL.com dream editors Pete Jensen and Rob Reese contributed to this listRead the Original Post.